Flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A combination flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus including conduit means together with a pair of spaced valves associated therewith. One of the valves includes means for indicating the position thereof for adjustably establishing a selected flow rate of fluid therethrough. The conduit means also includes a flexible wall portion of reduced thickness which pulsates in response to undue fluctuations in the rate of flow of fluid therethrough.

United States Patent inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Asuigncc Berel Weinstein New York, N.Y.

Sept. 29, 1970 Jan. 4, 1972 Bio-Medical Sciences, inc.

New York, N.Y.

Original application July 26, 1968, Ser. No. 747,993, now Patent No.3,543,753. Divided and this application Sept. 29, 1970, Ser. No. 76,384

FLOW REGULATOR AND FLOW RATE TESTING APPARATUS 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl l37/556.6, 251/8, 251/9, 137/613 Int. Cl. ..Fl6k 31/50, F16155/14 [50] Field of Search 73/3, 194; 128/214, DIG. 12; 137/551, 556,556.3, 556.6, 613; 251/8, 9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,855,323 4/1932 Sirch 251/8X 1,865,012 6/1932 Jackson 251/8 X 3,216,419 11/1965 Scisi0wicz..137/613X 3,332,439 7/1967 Burke 137/556 Primary Examiner-Henry T.Klinksiek Att0mey1rving Seidman ABSTRACT: A combination flow regulatorand flow rate testing apparatus including conduit means together with apair of spaced valves associated therewith. One of the valves includesmeans for indicating the position thereof for adjustably establishing aselected flow rate of fluid therethrough. The

, conduit means also includes a flexible wall portion of reducedthickness which pulsates in response to undue fluctuations in the rateof flow of fluid therethrough.

FLOW REGULATOR AND FLOW IRATE TESTING APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a division of applicantscopending application, U.S. Ser. No. 747,993, filed July 26, 1968 andnow U.S. Pat. No. 3,543,753.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates, generally, to flow control valves, and more specifically, to animproved flow regulator and apparatus for testing the flow ratetherethrough.

2. Description of the Prior Art I-Ieretofore, many flow control valveshave been proposed which sought to control the rate of flow of a fluidwhile also pennitting adjustment of said rate of flow and detection ofany obstructions to said flow. However, these known constructions do notprovide sufficient or adequate control means to insure that fluid passestherethrough at an evenly regulated flow.

The importance of providing such control is pointed out in applicantscopending application, Ser. No. 747,993, entitled Intra-Venous InfusionDevice, of which this application is a division thereof. Morespecifically, the aforesaid copending application, the subject matter ofwhich is incorporated herein, relates to a novel intravenous infusiondevice by which liquids, such as blood plasma and liquid medicants, canbe in fused intravenously into a patient The infusion device disclosedtherein includes a fluid container constructed so as to be attacheddirectly to the body of the patient in the immediate area of infusion.The device further includes an independent container for compresed airor gas adapted to be coupled to the aforesaid fluid container so as torelease the air or gas into said fluid container in such a manner as toforce the fluid out through an appropriate discharge outlet for infusioninto the patient.

Associated with the aforesaid infusion device is a fluid flow controland regulator device which permits the fluid to be administered to thepatient at an evenly regulated flow, and which flow may be adjusted inaccordance with the density or viscosity of the fluid.

Although the present invention relates specifically to the fluid flowcontrol and regulator device described in said application, it should beunderstood that the invention herein is not limited in use solely to aninfusion device but may be used in any fluid flow system requiring flowcontrol as an important feature thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The flow regulator and flow rate testingapparatus of the present invention includes a pair of spaced flowcontrol members formed integral with a support member locatedtherebetween. Compressible, resilient conduit means extends between saidcontrol members and is located on the support member; said conduit meansbeing in communication with through openings provided in each of thecontrol members. Each of said control members has a valve for regulatingthe flow of fluid through the conduit means, and one of said valvesincludes means for indicating the position of said valve relative to itsassociated control member for adjustably establishing a selected flowrate of fluid therethrough.

In another feature of the invention, the conduit means includes aflexible wall portion of reduced thickness which pulsates in response toundue fluctuations in the rate of flow of fluid therethrough.

Accordingly, an important object and feature of this invention residesin providing a flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus by whichfluid can be administered to a patient at an evenly regulated flow;which flow may be adjusted in accordance with the density or viscosityof the fluid.

Another object, feature and advantage of the present invention residesin providing a flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus which isrelatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the consideration ofthe following detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theflow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus constructed in accordancewith the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the adjustable valve shownin FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings,numeral 10 represents the flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention. Apparatus 10includes a pair of spaced flow control members 12 and 14, respectively,separated by support or base member 16. In the preferred embodiment,control members 12 and 14 are formed integral with support member 16.

Control members 12 and 14 are each formed with through opening 18therein (See FIG. 2) through which passes flexible conduit tube 20. Theend of tube 20 upstream of control member 12 is connected to a source ofliquid (not shown) such as the container disclosed in applicantscopending application. The other end of tube 20 downstream of controlmember 14 serves to convey the fluid to the point of intended use. Inthe preferred embodiment, the portion of tube 20 extending between thecontrol members 12 and I4 is of somewhat flattened cross section orenlarged to define a drip chamber 22 positioned on support member 16.Pivotally connected to hinge 24 to support member 16 is a clamp arm 26disposed for movement toward and away from support member 16. Theoperation is such that clamp arm 26 may be locked against the supportmember 16 by engagement of the finger 28 of said clamp arm 26 with thegroove 30 of support member 16 to compress the drip chamber 22 whendesired.

Referring now more specifically to the control aspect of the invention,control member 14 includes a housing 32 provided with a boreintersecting the through-opening thereof; said bore receiving andcooperating with screw valve 34 by means of which tube 20 may be closedoff completely. Control member 12 also includes a housing 36 providedwith a bore 38 intersecting the through-opening 18 thereof; said bore 38receiving and cooperating with screw valve 40 by which the flow of fluidfrom the source may be regulated or closed off.

As seen in FIG. 2, the bore 38 of housing 36 is provided interiorly witha graduated spiral groove 42 which cooperates and is adapted to engagewith a bead 44 projecting outwardly from the stem portion 46 of screwvalve 40. The operation is such that screw valve 40 may be either raisedor lowered by selected rotation thereof to adjust the pressure of saidvalve against tube 20 and thereby selectively increase or decrease theflow of fluid therethrough. The head of screw valve 40 further includesa pointer or indicator 48 which is disposed to cooperate with a suitablecalibrated scale 50 on the outer wall portion of housing 36 to indicatethe number of drops of fluid passing through tube 20 per minute. In thisconnection, since any one of many difierent fluids of varying densitiesor viscosities may be used in association with the control features ofthis invention, provision is made for establishing the desired flow ratethrough the system depending on the particular fluid in use. Forexample, depending on the particular fluid, the operator would adjustscrew valve 40 to locate pointer 48 at the desired marking on scale 50which would thus serve to establish a desired flow rate through thesystem. This can be easily checked as follows: Drip chamber 22 isconstructed having a known volume sufficient to hold, for example, 20drops. Clamp arm 26 is closed to deflate and empty drip chamber 22.Screw valve 34 is then closed and clamp arm 26 reopened to permit fluidfrom the source to refill drip chamber 22. Since the drip chamber ismade to hold 20 drops, the time taken to refill the drip chamber willindicate the number of drops per minute flowing past screw valve 36.

Referring again to FIG. 1 and to another feature of the invention, tube20 downstream of control member 14 is provided with a flow detector 52comprising a thinned-out section of said tube. In normal flowconditions, the flow detector 52 will remain flat and parallel with therest of the wall of tube 20. Where, however, there is blockage of flowdownstream of control member 14, the backing up of the fluid will causethe flow detector 52 to bulge or pulsate, thereby calling attention tothe malfunction so that it can be corrected.

From the foregoing it is to be noted that the embodiment shown anddescribed is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Furthermore,various changes may be made in the construction, composition andarrangement of parts without limitation upon or departure from thespirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantagesthereof inherent therein, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combined flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus comprising:

a. a pair of spaced flow control means;

h. each of said flow control means having flow-through means therein,and further including a movable valve member for adjustably regulatingthe flow of fluid through said flow-through means,

c. compressible, resilient conduit means extending between said pair offlow control means and in communication with the respective flow-throughmeans therein; and

d. clamp means between said pair of flow control means for constrictingengagement with said conduit means.

2. The combined flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus asrecited in claim 1, further including a support member for said conduitmeans; said clamp means having a movable arm portion mounted on thesupport member for movement to a position to compress said conduit meansrela tive to said support member.

3. The combined flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus asrecited in claim 2, wherein said pair of flow control means arerespectively integral with said support member.

4. The combined flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein one of said flow control means comprises atubular body having a bore intersecting the flow-through means thereof;said valve member being rotatably received within said bore; andcoacting means on said tubular body and said valve member for indicatingthe angular position of said valve member relative to said tubular body,and adjustably establishing a selected flow rate of fluid therethrough.

5. The combined flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus asrecited in claim 4, wherein said coacting means comprise pointer meanson said valve member and scale means on said tubular body, said scalemeans being correlated to a range of flow rates.

6. The combined flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus asrecited in claim 1, further including fluid outlet conduit means incommunication with the flow-through means of one of said flow controlmeans, said conduit means including a flexible wall portion of reducedthickness which pulsates in response to undue fluctuations in the rateof flow of fluid therethrough.

i 1 l i

1. A combined flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus comprising:a. a pair of spaced flow control means; b. each of said flow controlmeans having flow-through means therein, and further including a movablevalve member for adjustably regulating the flow of fluid through saidflowthrough means, c. compressible, resilient conduit means extendingbetween said pair of flow control means and in communication with therespective flow-through means therein; and d. clamp means between saidpair of flow control means for constricting engagement with said conduitmeans.
 2. The combined flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus asrecited in claim 1, further including a support member for said conduitmeans; said clamp means having a movable arm portion mounted on thesupport member for movement to a position to compress said conduit meansrelative to said support member.
 3. The combined flow regulator and flowrate testing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said pair of flowcontrol means are respectively integral with said support member.
 4. Thecombined flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus as recited inclaim 1, wherein one of said flow control means comprises a tubular bodyhaving a bore intersecting the flow-through means thereof; said valvemember being rotatably received within said bore; and coacting means onsaid tubular body and said valve member for indicating the angularposition of said valve member relative to said tubular body, andadjustably establishing a selected flow rate of fluid therethrough. 5.The combined flow regulator and flow rate testing apparatus as recitedin claim 4, wherein said coacting means comprise pointer means on saidvalve member and scale means on said tubular body, said scale meansbeing correlated to a range of flow rates.
 6. The combined flowregulator and flow rate testing apparatus as recited in claim 1, furtherincLuding fluid outlet conduit means in communication with theflow-through means of one of said flow control means, said conduit meansincluding a flexible wall portion of reduced thickness which pulsates inresponse to undue fluctuations in the rate of flow of fluidtherethrough.